About Salford

Salford is a city constantly changing and moving into an exciting future as a thriving cultural, economic and residential location.

From urban buzz to greenbelt tranquility, Salford is building on the mixture of its waterfront, urban and countryside environments to create places where people want to live, work, invest and visit.

Where is Salford?

Salford is about 200 miles north west of London. With excellent road and public transport links to all parts of the UK, the city is well placed as a visitor and commercial centre. And Manchester International Airport, gateway to over 200 international destinations, is just a few miles away too.

The city of Salford covers 37 square miles and the five districts of Salford, Eccles, Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, and Swinton and Pendlebury. Some 220,000 people are proud to call Salford their home.

The Blackfriars, Broughton and Ordsall districts of central Salford are just one minute's walk from the heart of Manchester's shopping and central business districts - just across the River Irwell which runs between the two cities.

Salford's closeness to Manchester city centre makes it an important part of the economy and culture that is driving England's north west forward. Salford and Manchester enjoy a unique situation: their connection creates a wealth of opportunities ranging from the potential for business relocation and development to establishing Salford's waterways and watersides as key regional and national visitor attractions and turning the city into a residential area of choice within Greater Manchester.

The Quays, Salford

Imagine London's Docklands... only better. World-class attractions like The Lowry - with the largest free collection of L S Lowry's work - and Imperial War Museum North, home to BBC North and soon to ITV and Coronation Street, theatres, galleries, designer shopping, river cruises, museums, modern architecture, watersports, football, cricket, plus a range of quality hotels make The Quays a spectacular destination and the new leisure capital of the north west!

Sport

Sports enthusiasts have world famous football, rugby and cricket to choose from. The AJ Bell Stadium is home to top flight teams from rugby league, Salford Red Devils, and rugby union, Sale Sharks, with Manchester United Football Club and Lancashire Cricket Club both within kicking distance of the city.

Outdoors

Over half the city is made up of green spaces and features forests, nature reserves, mosslands, parklands and picturesque villages. There are hundreds of acres of beautiful park with a variety of wildlife habitats. Salford has the UK's only orange canal, wetland, ponds and a fishing lake.

Opportunities

Salford is well known as a channel for academic and business talent. Children get a great start at a wide range of schools, further education colleges and the award-winning University of Salford. Over 150 big name firms including Cussons, Avis Car Hire and BUPA are based in Salford. Speaking of healthcare, you'll also find the major teaching hospital, Salford Royal, here.

The MediaCityUK development at Salford Quays has changed the face of the city, creating a globally important home for creative, digital and media industries. This 36 acre site is home to BBC North and the University of Salford who have opened a campus for 700 students and staff. ITV have also moved in with Coronation Street now being filmed here as well.

A series of regeneration programmes are changing the city's most deprived communities, while investment continues with public and private sector partners to deliver some exciting new developments and schemes for the city.

Heritage

As one of the world's first industrial cities, Salford is flooded with historic achievements - including the world's first free public library. Worsley village was the site of the transport revolution thanks for the Bridgewater Canal and there is 600 years of history packed into the haunted Tudor house, Ordsall Hall. Salford Museum and Art Gallery is starting an exciting redevelopment programme which will transform it into a national centre for social history.

Sustainable community strategy

Within Salford's sustainable community strategy is our vision to create a city where people choose to live and work, where the quality of life of our citizens is improved by creating economic prosperity, developing and maintaining strong, safe, healthy and sustainable communities, providing a better education for all, enabling our young people to fulfil their potential and creating a city that is good to live in by providing quality homes and a clean and healthy environment.

What's in Salford?

Where to begin? We have:

60% green space

18 square miles of countryside and parks

Six waterways

30 miles of rivers and canals

112 ponds and lakes

14 waterway bridges

Britain's largest inland waterway

A world-class arts and theatre complex attracting over one million visitors a year

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